Batmobile From 1960s ‘Batman’ TV Series Going up for Sale

The iconic car driven by Adam West in the 1960s television series "Batman" is going up for auction in January, reports TheWrap.com.

While a spokeswoman for the Barrett-Jackson auction house in Scottsdale, Ariz. wouldn’t tell what the minimum asking price is, it’s expected that the winning bid for the Batmobile will be in the millions, the story notes.

The car was stored for years by George Barris, a car customizer who turned a 19-foot-long 1955 Lincoln Futura into the Batmobile, the story notes.

"The Batmobile is true Americana and it’s hard to put a dollar figure on something like that,” said Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “The difference is that this is the real deal, the original and the only one to have been on the Batman series — it’s been in George Barris’ garage for all these years and that is invaluable. We expect plenty of enthusiasts and fans to come out and wouldn’t be surprised if the car sold for multiple millions.”

Barris originally bought the car for one dollar, with 20th Century Fox giving him $15,000 to turn it into the Batmobile. It’s still drivable, the piece adds.

4 Comments

Is this the actual Lincoln Futura conversion… or one of the half dozen or so replicas made for the series as back-up/stunt vehicles?
If it is the actual Futura conversion, it may be worth millions. Particularly if a new owner re-converts back into the beautiful automobile it originally was with its white pearlescent paint.

John, this IS the concept car created by Lincoln. Being an antique car owner myself, the unfortunate part is that it will probably pull more with the Batman tie-in than as a concept car. But that is anyones guess. The car was probably prompted to come on the market due to an article published in this months Classic Car magazine by Hemmings. If some purist buys it, you will probably get your wish. I hope so too.

I’m a car lover but also recognize the place the converted version holds in the history of pop culture, not just in America but worldwide. Doing anything to it that would alter its appearance as the Batmobile would be a crime against humanity. A misdemeanor crime against humanity but still a crime.

I have been an admirer of the custom auto work of George Barris since the sixties, but a real “crime” was committed when the original Lincoln Futura was butchered (sorry, George) to create the “iconic” Batmobile.
Considering that there were several fiberglass duplicates (pulled from molds taken off the original) made for the show during its run, most of which still survive, the car should have been restored to its original and truly iconic design.
I guess it’s lucky for Batmobile lovers that I’m in no position to buy the car, as I wouldn’t hesitate to restore it.